ATK and Cook's Country

[Andy M.]

I watch these two shows when I can. The recipes are usually well done and pretty tasty. The product taste tests and product reviews can be helpful. I have made a purchase or two based on their recommendations...

...BUT You knew there was going to be a "but".

Christopher Kimball is supremely annoying.

First of all, when they show you the standard preparation of a recipe before they show their version, they always over dramatize how awful it is, purposely making a mess of it for effect.

Second, when a recipe is done and the tasting is performed, he always describes it as "FANTASTIC!" and often says it's the best "whatever" he's ever tasted.

It reminds me of infomercials for crappy products.

This over the top hyperbole is beyond what's necessary to sell the recipe. I half expect him to to say, "But wait, if you act now you can get another recipe for free! (just pay separate shipping and handling).

I'm done now. What do you think?

 

[CharlieD]

Don't they always do that? On all the shows? MMM, it is absolutely the best and bla, bla, bla. They all do it. SOme more, some less, some are really annoing, some are ok. But all the chefs do that, I cannot stand it.

 

[Andy M.]

Don't they always do that? On all the shows? MMM, it is absolutely the best and bla, bla, bla. They all do it. SOme more, some less, some are really annoing, some are ok. But all the chefs do that, I cannot stand it.

You're right, Charlie. Just once I'd like to see a chef taste the dish they just made and spit out out or say, "That's not very good. Not at all what I expected."

My complaint with this guy is that he makes it more dramatic than most of the others.

 

[bethzaring]

I have never seen Christopher Kimball on tv, but I used to subscribe to his magazines and had at least two of his cookbooks. I found him extremely annoying. I sold all the magazines and books of his that I had, on eBay. I am sure this isn't true, but I would think to myself that I could write a much better article than what was published in his magazines.

 

[jet]

I find him to be mildly annoying, but I imagine he's the comic relief for those people who couldn't take straight cooking.

 

[buckytom]

i automatically don't like him because he looks like my lawyer. no kidding! bowtie and receding hairline and all!

i find the entire show awkwardly snobbish. i like the logic behind most of their testing, but then there's an air that their conclusion is THE one, forgetting taste is subjective.

 

[jet]

i automatically don't like him because he looks like my lawyer. no kidding! bowtie and receding hairline and all!
...

You mean there are still two people in the country who wear bowties?

 

[Uncle Bob]

Can't stand the show nor Kimball....Never have...Also, I have no respect/trust in/for their "tests"....The Show might ( I doubt it) improve if Kimball washed his hair, brushed his teeth etc...While I don't have Smell-A-Vision here I suspect a good bar of soap might be called for in the mix.

 

[locksmith]

I subscribe to Cook's Illustrated on the web and dropped my hard copy subscription. I don't care for Kimball think he comes off as a snob. However I learn a lot from the show and will continue to watch both ATK and Cook's Country.

 

[jet]

I watch the shows because they still cook. All too many cooking shows are more about travel or socializing.

 

[GB]

I watch the shows because they still cook. All too many cooking shows are more about travel or socializing.

I am with you on this jet. that is why I enjoy watching it as well.

Just like with Consumer Reports, I find ATK to sometimes give great advice and sometimes give horrible advice. I do not count on them to give me all the answers, but I do enjoy getting from them what I can and discarding the rest.

Andy, to your point about CK, my opinion is that he is just a bad actor. As Charlie mentioned, the other shows do the same thing, but IMO they get away with it better than Chris because they are better actors. Chris is a jabroni though. I like Julia though. She sometimes puts him in his place.

 

[Andy M.]

I am with you on this jet. that is why I enjoy watching it as well.

Just like with Consumer Reports, I find ATK to sometimes give great advice and sometimes give horrible advice. I do not count on them to give me all the answers, but I do enjoy getting from them what I can and discarding the rest.

Andy, to your point about CK, my opinion is that he is just a bad actor. As Charlie mentioned, the other shows do the same thing, but IMO they get away with it better than Chris because they are better actors. Chris is a jabroni though. I like Julia though. She sometimes puts him in his place.

Well said, GB. As I said, I watch the show. I'm just annoyed by CK. Julia and Bridget(?) are natural. I get the impression the tolerate him because he's the boss.

I read an article about him that suggested he was a tyrant in the workplace.

 

[GB]

LOL I get that same impression Andy. I think the show would be so much better if the ladies took over and kicked him out!

 

[buckytom]

You mean there are still two people in the country who wear bowties?

lol, jet. yep, here's my lawyer, brian neary:



and here's chris kimball:

 

[CookLikeJulia]

I have watched this show only once, nice to see that they are still there.